Long-term outcome of acute renal injury induced by Aristolochia manshuriensis Kom in rats

AIM: To investigate the long-term functional and morphological changes of t he kidney induced by acute intoxication of Aristolochia manshuriensis Kom i n rats. METHODS: Experimental model of acute renal injury was established i n the Sprague-Dawley rats with oral administration of decoctions of Chinese herb, Aristolochia manshuriensis Kom, at dosages of 50 g . kg(-1) . d(-1) and 30 g . kg(-1) . d(-1) for 7 consecutive days, and 20 g . kg(-1) . d(-1) for 15 consecutive days. Renal function was assayed at months 0 (right aft er treatment), 1, 3, and 6 of the experiment. Renal histological examinatio n was also performed. RESULTS: 1) At month 0, the renal functional changes of acute renal injury included azotemia, low molecular weight proteinuria, glycosuria, hypoosmotic urine, and NAG enzymuria. Histopathological changes showed acute tubular necrosis, predominantly at the corticomedullary junct ion. 2) At months 1 and 3, the renal function of rats of the experiment was gradually restored and histopathologic examination suggested that the tubu lar lesions gradually recovered. In HE sections, basophilic deposits were o bserved in the tubular cytoplasm. And interstitial infiltration of inflamma tory cells was not prominent. 3) At months 6, renal preneoplastic lesions, renal tumors, and extrarenal tumors occurred in rats. The occurrence of ren al preneoplastic lesions at dosages of 50 g . kg(-1) . d(-1), 30 g . kg(-1) . d(-1) and 20 g . kg(-1) . d(-1) were 100.0 % at all three doses, renal t umors 42.8 %, 25.0 %, and 0 %, respectively, extrarenal tumors 14.4 %, 12.5 %, and 12.5 %, respectively, and systemic tumors 57.2 %, 31.5 %, and 12.5 %, respectively. The occurrence of basophilic deposits, renal preneoplastic lesions, renal tumors, and extrarenal tumors in normal control group was n il. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Administration of large dosage of Aristolochia manshuri ensis Kom induces acute renal failure in rats. 2) The long-term renal funct ion and histopathologic changes of acute renal injury induced by Aristoloch ia manshuriensis Komrecover spontaneously. 3) Aristolochia manshuriensis Ko m has been proved to be oncogenic for the first time.